lawrence



(No'ModeL) J. D. & W. 0. LAWRENCE.

CURRY COMB. No. 276,696. Patented May 1,1883.

Madam, WITNESSES: O

w a z INVENTOHiJ V A Ltarn ey? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

JOHN D.. LAWRENCE AND WVILLIAM G. LAVVRENOE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CURRY-COMB.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 276,696, dated May 1, 1883.

Application filed Januaryll), 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we,JoHN D. LAWRENCE and WILLIAM G. LAWRENCE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Curry-Combs, of which the following is a specification.

' Our invention relates to that class of currycombs constructed to afford a rest to the hand above the comb-bars; and it consists in constructing the back of the comb, as fully described hereinafter, so as to serve to connect the comb-bars, aftbrd the desired rest, and secure both the ad vantages of open and closed back combs.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a curry-comb embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back detached; Fig. at is a front edge view of the back. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 1 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5, showing a modification; and Fig. 7 is a sectionof the back plate, showing another modification.

The comb may be of any suitable construction,consisting, for instance, of toothed bars a, assembled and connected in the usual man ner, knocker-plate 11, side handle, A, and manecomb B.

The back plate, 0, of the comb,instead of 1ying flat upon the comb-bars throughout its whole extent, as is usual in closed-back combs, is bent or stamped up at the center, so as to form a bridge, d, inclosing a small space, an, above the comb-bars, and to the top of which is riveted or otherwise secured a plate, f,which is prolonged to form the tang upon which to drive the handle A. The back plate, as thus constructed, serves as a means of connectin g together the comb-bars and supporting the knocker-plates, and also as a support for the handle in an elevated position above the back, without the use of the usual bent shanks or connecting-wires, while the space 00 receives the combings which can escape through the front opening, that the bars may be cleaned in the same manner as an open-backed comb, yet the covering of the back secures all the advantages of a closed-back comb. At the.

same time the bridge or elevated portion daffords a rest for the palm of'the hand, so that the latter can be spread over the comb in a comfortable position. To facilitate the grasping of the comb in the manner last indicated, a thumb-rest underneath the side handle may be secured either by bending in a portion of so as to incline the top of the bridge toward the front downward, a portion of the metal being turned up or down at the front edge to form a stiflening-rib, e. V

The bridge, instead of having flat sides, may be arched, as shown in Fig. 7, and may be cut away at points, so as to reduce the weight, and it may be inclined to meetthe front bar, so as not to leave any front opening,.as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

To facilitate the holding of the comb when the hand is spread over the back, we extend a blade or horn, h, upward from a point near the inner endof the side handle,A. The hand may be extended over the back with the horn between the forefinger and middle finger, and with the thumb against the thumb-rest at 3 when the comb can be easily and securely held.

We are aware that continuous handles have been applied to extend over the backsof combs; but our back plate is not in any sense a handle, but is continuous and imperforate, forming a closed back.

We claim- 1. A curry-comb, provided with a continuous back plate bentupward to form a bridge or arch, and with a side handle connected to the said bridge, substantially as set forth.

2. Acurry-comb provided with aside handle and with comb-bars, and with a continuous back plate elevated to form a central space,w, abovethe bars, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the bars and side handle ofa curry-comb, of a'continuous back plate raised to form a space, as, closed at the rear to constitute a rest for the thumb, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the bars and handle of a curry-comb, of a continuous back plate hent upward to form a bridge, narrow and names to this, specification in the presence of elevated at the rear and expanded and intwo subscribing witnesses. cli-n'ed downward toward the front, as specified.

- JNO. D. LAWRENCE.

o. The combination of the comb-bars, 1n- 4 T clined continuous back, side handle, and blade v WILLIAM LAWREB h, projecting upward from the end of the side Witnesses: handle, substantially as set forth. JOHN F. GRAY,

In testimony whereof we have signed our JNo. O. HOOPER. 

